Dr. Beverly Emory Speaks About Leaving Pitt County Schools

After a recent controversy involving Pitt County School Board Superintendent, Dr. Beverly Emory, Thursday she spoke to media about her reasons for leaving her position after 7 years, to head to Winston-Salem for the same position there.

Emory has worked as superintendent of Pitt County Schools since 2006. She said Thursday she's resigning to take a job closer to her family, and addressed some of the most controversial moments in her career at Pitt County Schools.

Dr. Emory says one of the hardest moments in her career was in 2008, when 16 year old Jaquan Waller from J.H. Rose High school, died while playing football from second impact syndrome. Second impact syndrome occurs when an athlete returns to sport too early after suffering from an initial concussion. She said she and the school board felt a lot of ownership for that. She also addressed the 2011 incident with D.H. Conley football player Maleek Gorham who was deemed ineligible after questions arose about him not living in the district where he played. Emory says after concerns that Gorham wasn't the only student playing sports while living outside his district, she decided to hire an investigator.

"I don't regret hiring an investigator. I don't regret that it cost us only 3,500 dollars. I regret that I didn't broadcast it from the rooftops and make a big deal about the fact that we were doing it because what personally pained me the most is that there was any thought that I was doing something wrong and trying to hide it, and I wasn't. I was just trying to be fair," said Emory.

She says none of the challenges she's faced as superintendent have anything to do with her decision to leave.

Emory says her last day is June 30th and she will start her new position on July 1st. The Pitt County School Board met at 4pm Thursday in a closed session to discuss finding a new superintendent.

Pitt County School Board spokeswoman Marsha McLawhornresponded to WITN's questions about the search saying the chairman is not going to be part of the search. She says school board members will review applications.

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Pitt County School Superintendent Dr. Beverly Emory is leaving the school system for a new job.

Emory was introduced a short while ago at a news conference as the new superintendent at Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.

She will replace Dr. Don Martin, who is retiring at the end of June after 19 years with the school system.

Emory has been superintendent in Pitt County since 2006. Within the past six months she led the school system through a controversy involving the ineligibility of a D.H. Conley football player.

Emory was chosen among 34 candidates and will start her new job on July 1st.

The Pitt County School Board has called a special meeting for Thursday afternoon where it's expected members will discuss Emory's departure.

Stay with WITN News and witn.com for more on this developing story.

E-mail sent to Pitt County Schools staff

March 26, 2013

Dear PCS Family,

This morning I have been offered and accepted the Superintendent position in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School District. This opportunity is bittersweet. I have dearly loved this district, the tremendous growth and progress you have made for our children and the wonderful people who make it happen here...YOU.

It is time for me to make a change and this new position is both a challenge and an honor for me. I will be less than two hours from home where my parents still reside and within an hour of most all my family members in this state. W-S/FCSD is a district much like us that has faced similar challenges and made good progress; it feels like a good match for me.

My pledge to you is that I will work tirelessly to ensure a smooth transition and to support your work as best I can in the days ahead. You have been like a family to me and I so respect and admire all that you do every day for our students. I am incredibly proud of all that we have accomplished for the students and our community. There is much work to be done, but you are more than UP to the cause!

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